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whichwaytogo47
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Continuing the discussion from Child with Autism at Mass:
For instance, a person might use the term gifted with the intent of being condescending or belittling but another person may use the insulting term special yet regard in her/his heart with the proper esteem. I think we need to pay more attention to how people treat others with disabilities or whom are different from them, rather than solely based on the words they use or their cooperation with political correctness. I’d much rather someone say, that child with MR will have to work hard some day but will/could make something of themselves vs someone saying, that gifted or intellectually impaired child will never amount to anything (context = everything)
Continuing the discussion from Child with Autism at Mass:
You betcha. We have focused way too much on certain words being offensive (i.e. don’t dare call a special education child, “special”) and not the intended meaning of the person using the words, i.e. everyone is special in god’s eyes. We’ve gotten so sensitive to words that sometimes we’ve hijacked them from those who legitimately earned those words (i.e. someone who’s legitimately intellectually advanced w/o being encumbered by disability). As someone with PDD-NOS, I actually consider 2E to be offensive even though I myself would be regarded as 2E. For me, I am advanced in my own right and I happen to be on or close to the autism spectrum. To be intellectually advanced as well is not something I consider any more important just because I have a disability. I thus don’t refer to myself as gifted as it’s not deserved or 2E because it’s irrelevant.
For instance, a person might use the term gifted with the intent of being condescending or belittling but another person may use the insulting term special yet regard in her/his heart with the proper esteem. I think we need to pay more attention to how people treat others with disabilities or whom are different from them, rather than solely based on the words they use or their cooperation with political correctness. I’d much rather someone say, that child with MR will have to work hard some day but will/could make something of themselves vs someone saying, that gifted or intellectually impaired child will never amount to anything (context = everything)
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